Vehicle



R. G. LEDIG.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION mu) MAR. 1|. I921.

1,41 1,852. Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

2 $HEETS-SHEET I.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES RICHARD 1G. LEDIG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO A. MECKY COMPANY, OF IPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

VEHICLE.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

To-aZZ whom it may concern Beit known that I, hirer-man Gr. LEDIG, a citizen of the United States, residingin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to=i1nprovements in toy vehicles or velocipedes for children, and the object of the invention is to provide a vehicle of this type comprising certain novel and improved features of construction hereinafter fully set forth.

The invention will be more readily under stood from the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a view in perspective of a tricycle made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2, is a partial vertical section illustrating the details of the steering post con nection;-

Fig. 3, is a partial sectional view illustrating the details of the hub construction;

Fig. 4:, is a vertical section on the line 1%, of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, is a vertical section similar to that of Fig. 3, and illustrating the device with the pedals removed, and

Fig. 6, is a fragmentary section illustrating a modification within the scope of my invention.

lVith reference to the drawings, 1 is the body of the vehicle formed in the present instance of a flat board or the like, from which depend at the rear elements 2, 2, having at the bottom thereof bearings for a rear axle 3, upon the ends of which are mounted the hubs 4:, d, of the rear wheels 5, 5. A brace 6 extends diagonally forwardly and upwardly from the said axle, and is attached to the under side of the body 1. In the front of the body 1 is an aperture 7 through which extends a spindle 8 at the upper end of a forked structure 9, the two forks 10, 10, of which extend downwardly and have at their lower extremities apertures forming bearings for the axle of the front wheel 11. The upper end of the spindle 8 is adapted to fit into the bottom of a hollow steering post 12, having at the top handle bars 13 for steering purposes, and a set screw or the like 14 is established in a threaded opening in the said steering post 12 and is adapted to clamp the steering post to the spindle 8. W'ashers 15 and 16 are respectively interposed between the lower end of the steeringpost 12 and the body 1, and'between the under side of the body 1 and-the shoulder 17 of the forked Structure 9.

As shownin Fig; 3, I provide an axle for the wheel 11 formed in two sections 18 and 19, each comprising-a crank arm, 20 and 21 respectively, having a pedal 22 at the outer end, which sections are adapted to be inserted through apertures 23, 23, at the lower ends of the forks 10, 10, and into opposite ends of the hub 24 of the front wheel 11, said portlons 18 and 19 having their inner ends cut diagonally and oppositely so that together they form a continuous axle element with the said crank arms extending in opposite directions, the diagonal end surfaces 18 and 19' lying one against the other, as most clearly shown in Fig. After insertion in the opposite sides of the hub 24, the two sections 18 and 19 may be secured together by means of a cotter pin 25 extending through the hub and through the said sections 18 and 19 whereby the said sections not only are held together and prevented from withdrawal from the hub, but also connection is established between the hub and the axle. As shown in Fig. l, the interior of the hub 24 is formed in the present instance with fiat sides,-and the said sections 18 and 19 also are flattened to lit the said hub interior, whereby rotation of the axle effects rotation of the wheel.

It will, of course, be apparent that instead of the single cotter pin 25, two separate ins may be employed passing through the hub and the respective axle sections, as shown in Fig. 6, in which case the overlapping feature of the sections is unnecessary. It is also further to be noted that with the fiattened conformation of the hub and of the axle elements, the use of a cotter pin for connecting the crank to the hub is not required, and any suitable means may be employed to retain the axle elements in place in the hub in lieu of the cotter pin.

When it is desired to remove the pedals, this may be accomplished, in the present instance, by removal of the cotter pin 25, and an axle pin 26 is provided which may be inserted through the hub 2i and through the bearing apertures in the forks to provide an axle for the wheel. This pin is, of course, flat at the sides to conform to the shape of the interior of the hub, and

has extending through the ends apertures 27, 27, for the reception of cotter pins 28,

28, or the like, by means of which the said axle pin is retained in place. A central aperture may also be provided for the reception of the cotter pin 25.

I claim:

In a vehicle, the combination of a body having a forked structure pivotally mounted therein, the respective forks of said structure being apertured at their lower ends, a wheel having a hollow hub element, the interior of said hub element being of irregular cross sectional contour, a pair of crank elements having portions inserted respectively through the apertures in the forks and into the opposite sides of said hub element, the

inserted portions of said axle elements being shaped -to conform with the sha e of the interior of the hub, the inner en surfaces of the said inserted portions of the crank elements being formed in a plane diagonal to the longitudinal axis of said portions so that the two portions together form a substantially contlnuous axle for the said wheel, and said inserted portions having registering apertures in the ends, and a in inserted through the apertures in t 0 said hub and the registering apertures in the said axle portions whereby Withdrawal of the said crank elements from the hub is prevented.

RICHARD G. LEDIG. 

